Rockdale County
Birding Locations |
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Legend
Su = summer
F = fall
W = winter
Sp = spring
YR = year-round
[July 2005] = Most recently checked by KB
[N/A] = Not yet checked by KB
 = Location is within +/- 10 miles of the indicated interstate highway. This is especially helpful for out-of-town birders who may be passing through Georgia while travelling and would like to get a quick birding fix. This is also helpful for birders planning a "Big Day," where staying close to a major interstate corridor is essential for covering the greatest diversity of habitats in 24 hours.
 = Location is a "Georgia Birding Hotspot." Though this designation is subjective, it generally means that the area should be given high priority when planning a birding trip to a region. Some Hotspots offer incredible, productive birding virtually year-round (Jekyll Island), while the best birding of the year may be more seasonal at others (Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park).
SBM = Shorebird Migration; this very generally refers to mid-March thru May in spring and mid-July thru mid-October in fall. Fall is the prime shorebird season. Baird's and Buff-breasted Sandpipers likely only in fall. Peak passage of specific species is quite variable.
PM = Passerine Migration; this very generally refers to April and May in spring and August thru mid-October in fall. This includes all songbirds - wood warblers, vireos, tanagers, thrushes, flycatchers, etc. Peak passage of specific species is quite variable. Spring migration is much more concentrated and birds are often in colorful breeding plumage. Fall migration is more spread out; fall wood warblers can be notoriously difficult to identify (or even impossible to determine sex), with numerous juveniles which do not exhibit the same obvious field marks as adults.
IBA = Important Bird Area; the aim of the IBA Program is to identify and conserve key breeding and feeding sites for birds. An Important Bird Area is a place that provides essential habitat for one or more species of bird, whether in breeding season, winter, or during migration. These sites are considered to be exceptionally important for bird conservation; see Georgia's IBA Webpage.
Rockdale County
1) Georgia International Horsepark [Sept 2007] 
PM, late Sp-Su for breeding birds
[DeLorme Pg. 27, C-7]
From Interstate 20 (east of Atlanta) take exit 82 and travel north for 3.7 miles on GA Hwy 138. Turn right onto Centennial Olympic Parkway. In 1.6 miles, you will park at a polo field on the right (PHOTO 1). Go to the kiosk to get a map of the area. As you face the polo field (PHOTO 2), go to the far left corner of the field (you should see a small memorial with white crosses in this area). Bird the edges of the field briefly, then head down the gravel road that descends to the Yellow River from the corner of the field (PHOTO 3) - this is known as the Swainson's Warbler Trail (see edited map below). You'll see a large, low swampy area on your left at the start of this trail. Listen for Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and Acadian Flycatcher. When the road reaches the river, it curves to the right and follows the river through mixed bottomland forest that is very choked up with Chinese privet. It is in this area that Swainson's Warblers breed; study their song before you go and please avoid playing tapes for them so as not to disturb their breeding. You may also hear Louisiana Waterthrush on the river, and there are a couple places where you can get a view on the water to catch a glimpse of them. Other interesting birds in the area include Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Hooded Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, Red-eyed and White-eyed Vireos, Indigo Buntings, and thrushes. When you reach a gas line cut across the river (a wide open view of the river is availabe here), take the trail to the right and you will gain in elevation away from the river and enter an area dominated by pines. You may encounter upland migrants and breeders here, such as Pine Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Cape May Warbler, or Yellow-breasted Chat, along with nuthatches and woodpeckers. You can stay on this trail (or use a combination of side trails - see the MAP below) and you can eventually reach Centennial Olympic Pkwy where you can bear to the right and make a nice loop back to your vehicle. The next area to bird is exactly 1.0 mile further down Centennial Olympic Pkwy; you will pass Gees Mill Rd on your right then cross Costley Mill Rd. Pass the main entrance to the horse facility on the right, and turn right at the last possible gate on the right. Park on the left in a grassy area that is for horse trailers, and find a small green information/map sign under a couple large oak trees (PHOTO 4). Just behind this is where the Haynes Creek Bottomland trail descends (PHOTO 5). All along this trail you may find neat migrants like Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, Red-eyed and White-eyed Vireos, and wood warblers. After a couple hundred yards, you'll notice that an open bottomland and swampy area is now off the trail to your left (PHOTO 7). You can leave the trail here to get down to the edge of some great wet habitat that is full of willows, scrubby vegetation, and hardwoods (PHOTO 6). This area may have all kinds of cool migrants and bottomland breeders like Prothonotary Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Northern and Louisiana Waterthrush, Hooded Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher; Swainson's Warbler may be possible in areas of denser brush. From here, you can actually continue deeper to explore the bottomland area (see edited map below) but you will need hip-boots or even chest waders to access the area. In fact, the entire property is very muddy and you should wear waterproof boots with Gortex at the very least. This bottomland area has hosted several rarities over the years, including possible Bell's Vireo and Alder Flycatcher in May 2006. When you are finished here (or perhaps before you get all muddy and worn-out here!) you should not miss a visit to the Big Haynes Creek "Nature Center" almost directly across the street from the horse trailer parking access road. There is no visitor's center, just a piece of land with a manicured trail down to a nice canoe launch dock and a covered shelter. It is more quality hardwood/bottomland habitat and a good way to get a nice view of a very large wetlands upstream (PHOTO 8). You may find waterfowl here in early spring, along with possible waders or divers; a group of Red-headed Woodpeckers is often seen amid the many snags along the edge of the water.
        
PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 3 PHOTO 4 PHOTO 5 PHOTO 6 PHOTO 7 MAP PHOTO 8
Text by KB; photos by KB & RC; map by Mike Riter, edited by KB
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Copyright 2010 Ken Blankenship. All rights reserved.
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